Reproduced with the kind permission of Dick Puddlecote
As quite stunning lies go, this nugget from the response to a Number 10 e-petition suggesting the provision of separate smoking rooms in pubs and clubs takes some beating.
Survey data, anecdotal evidence and reports in the media seem to indicate that the impact on the hospitality trade as a whole has been at worst neutral and in many cases positive. We have seen no significant evidence to date that implies that smokefree legislation, either in this country or in others where it has been in place for some years, will create any long-term economic problems for pubs or the hospitality trade in general.
(I have used green as I am truly jealous of their ability for producing outright lies!)
I just add here that this is exactly the same tripe that was spouted pre-ban, even though 2 countries (Ireland & Scotland) had already been slaughtered!
Yep. Nothing but positive news from the hospitality industry since July 2007, eh?
And, of course, according to Number 10, the disaster for pubs, which kicked in well before the economy imploded, has certainly not escalated since.
UK pubs closed at a rate of 52 per week in the first half of the year - a third more than the same period in 2008 - the British Beer & Pub Association said.Yet while all but the most bigoted anti-smokers within the industry admit that the smoking ban has had a deletorious effect, the Department of Health are still rigidly clinging on to a hearts and flowers view.
Try not to laugh as I repeat this bit.
"... the impact on the hospitality trade as a whole has been at worst neutral and in many cases positive." (oops! green again)
Now, it was always clear that such a petition would be ignored, despite the fact that the provision of smoking rooms could do nothing but improve the chances of pubs staying open. Moreover, there would be no effect on the health of non-smokers as they would have no need to be in the vicinity of smoking should they choose not to be. It is a 100% win/win.
But a little more honesty in the reply would be desirable (not to mention actually tackling the meat of the petition rather than merely responding to the first sentence).
Why not instead say, truthfully, that the EU & WHO are committed to blanket bans and it is out of Westminster's hands? I dunno, perhaps it's an idealistic view, but isn't the point of a democracy the fact that the electorate should be given straight and honest answers by their representatives and assistants? Or are bare-faced, transparent lies the order of the 21st century?
Actually, don't answer that.
4 comments:
What's it about? What's the gist of it? I've only got dialup, so I can't watch videos.
It was just the reply from No 10 to an e-petition that was sent to Gordoom:
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“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to reintroduce smoking rooms in pubs.”
Details of Petition:
“Since the introduction of the smoking ban pubs all around the country are closing at a rate of around 39 a week. This is a disaster for many communities where the pub is the hub of the community, for many small specialists breweries, landlords and their staff. I propose that the Government lift the total smoking ban in all pubs and allow the introduction of allocated smoking rooms. It would be up to individual publicans to decide if they want a smoking room or not rather than the current outright ban. Such a move would help many pubs to survive and staff to keep their jobs. As a none smoker I ask all those who want to protect a long standing part of our British culture, the pub, to sign this petition whether you are a smoker or none smoker like me.”
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And No 10 replied in predictable fashion:
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On 1 July 2007, new laws were implemented to make virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England smokefree. The primary aim of the legislation was to protect workers and the general public from exposure to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Medical and scientific evidence shows that exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk... Yada Yada Yada...typical reply.
TBY
The smoking ban killed several birds with one stone - destroying part of English culture, removing places of congregation and furthering the snooping culture they've been nurturing.
E-petitions must be a handy tool for the government in collecting details of dissenters. B@stards.
Nigel Farage is the only politician who seems to want to tackle this issue.
Thanks for the link Fausty, I'm ex labour in need of a champion and Nigel is it...well Lord Pearson now, and UKIP.
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